Hi friends, it’s been chaotic over here the past week and the perfume sampling fell by the wayside. But the weather’s lovely, so there’s that. Plus I bet you smell delightful; what are you wearing? Here’s something short I had in my files about what’s worth it vs. not for me personally, feel free to chime in with yours. There is no judgment on my part about any of these, we each have our budgets and priorities.
Worth It: a nice facial. I’ve gone back to getting them, part of their invaluable service is waxing my nose hairs — did you even know that was A Thing? It’s the greatest. As I age I’m developing the nose-hairs of a 90-year-old man. They use a ball of hot wax mounted on a small wooden stick et voilà. TMI? Why can’t my eyebrows or eyelashes grow that prolifically?
Not Worth It: high end designer handbags. I have a colorful bag wardrobe but on the whole I’d rather waste my money on more fragrance than I’ll ever wear.
Worth It: Perfume. Obviously.
Not Worth It: fine dining / dining out. I’m not all that interested in food, especially fancy food, and when presented with the cost of a nicer restaurant’s entree all I think about is how much stuff I could have gotten at the grocery store with that cash or, you know, a fun new mascara or a sweater or something equally frivolous.
Worth It: Travel. Nothing fancy or exotic, but going somewhere new, usually a city I can walk in easily / subway etc.
Not Worth It: high end skincare (La Mer etc.) I think there are a lot of options that will get the job done that aren’t bottled by nuns at dawn using fairies’ tears, gold leaf, and fresh Alpine snowmelt. I have some lovely K beauty and a couple of prescriptions. And I wear vampire-level sunscreen and a hat and sun-block clothing.
Your turn!
images via Pexels
Worth it
Time, that’s why I retired early, 9 years ago. Time spent with people you love is always worth it.
Pets. They provide us with support, companionship & caring for something is good for mental health.
Perfume. Though getting less so.
Well fitting jeans. Not designer or particularly expensive just well fitting. M&S have been great for the last few years but this year’s jeans are much smaller in the waist & hips but much longer in the leg. Levi’s are worth it.
1000+ thread count bedding. Last for decades, never bobbles.
Gym membership paid up front. If I’ve paid in advance I will go as often as possible.
Not worth it
Fast fashion. Been there done that. Still have the rubbishy T-shirts etc cluttering up my wardrobes.
Best quality food. Meat from a butcher, fish from the fish market, fruit & veg from the as often as possible. Batch cooking & freezing saves money & time.
Paid for UK streaming services.
Got 3 shared streaming services for Xmas. Turns out we hardly watch them.
Upgrading phone handsets every 2-3 years when my current handset is still supported & working well.
Fitness wearables. I don’t want to be shouted at, told off or be given instructions by AI thank you.
Oh wow, we have veeeery similar tastes on this! Believe it or not, I’ve gotten some flattering and well made jeans from Old Navy and Gap. I might have to upgrade my iPhone this year bc it’s so old Apple is going to stop supporting it, which is annoying. It was an upgrade from a 6 😀 (same issue). I’m doing a class (sort of like Pilates Reformer) and you pay by the month in advance, you can bet I’m in there getting my money’s worth!
This is a topic that makes you think. I’m betting that I’ll miss some of my “worth it – not worth it” things because of all the things mentioned that I have an opinion on!
I see no value nor am I interested in designer purses/bags. I usually have one purse in a neutral color and use it until it’s used up. I do usually have a nice tote or two. My favorite is a thick canvas that says “We all have Excess Baggage…” on it.
Fine dining – not worth it. Rarely is the food any better and the prices are not even remotely worth it. I can really enjoy a seasonal plate of fresh strawberries and raspberries and blueberries with several different cheeses and some sour cream and humus on the side that I make myself. It’ll much cost less than a fine dining tip!
Facials- worth it
Good shampoo – worth it
Skincare – good products, not necessarily expensive products
Makeup – a bit of both – eyebrow pencil is cheap, concealer is not.
Travel – worth it
We live on a great big beautiful planet with so much to see and experience. The geography, the temperatures, the oceans, the people and animals, the plants and flowers, the cities, the cultures and languages. It would take more than one lifetime of travel to even put a dent in it!
PERFUME – so worth it!!!
Browsing other people’s comments has been so much fun, and I missed quite a few I could have added! If I had more disposable income, more travel would be happening and I’d stay occasionally in some nicer places (I’m all about location). And yes, I’d much rather have a plate of something really fresh (berries, salad) with a dear friend on our porch outside than a fancy meal <3
Fun post. We love the library and listen to audiobooks in the evening instead of tv. It is also very easy to have a nice collection of the books, dvds and cds that you love without spending a fortune. With certain books, music and movies, there is just something about having them physically in your home.
As far as expensive purses, I want a purse that I can use without crying if I have to put it on the ground or bump it into something. I adore the Cambridge Satchel Daisy purse – timeless in design and made well.
Restaurants, cocktails bars and bakeries are worth it to us. Just like perfume, they are an experience and many have happy memories attached to them.
Of course, if I suddenly win the lottery, then my definition of “not worth it” will change drastically!
We don’t have a TV which … shocks some people (“what?!?”). And I totally get the “experiential” side of food/drink, that’s happy memories, my housemate Carolyn LOVES a good meal. I should clarify I’m perfectly happy to go to Chez Fancy if someone else is buying 😀 Cambridge Satchel makes gorgeous bags, I might be having a browse on eBay…. and YES if my net worth suddenly jumped, “worth it” would change.
I managed to get an unused, in perfect condition Cambridge Satchel Daisy bag for $70 on the shopgoodwill site. Couldn’t believe my luck!
Well I kind of have a thing about people touching me who I don’t know but I do like facials. Especially since men’s skin “weathers” in a way that I do not care for.
Perfume: Sometimes worth it, sometimes not. But we keep sampling..
High end skincare? I use creme de la mer on my face and neck and it’s good. Is it better than Nivea? Yep. Is it better than Nivea that you emulsify in your palm with a few squirts of helichrysum oil? Not really that I can see. ($10 for the nivea and $10 for the oil which will last a looong time)
Obviously I don’t carry or need a handbag but I think it’s silly (not worth it) and in many cases hopelessly vulgar to have a handbag that costs more than college tuition at a good school but you do you.
Travel- definitely worth it. If I could win the Looto I would retire and do nothing but, starting with a year long USA road trip. which leads me to another not worth it.
Really expensive cars: not worth it IMHO. I don’t mean a Cadillac or a Mercedes (Celestiq and AMG Mercs excepted) I am talking Ferrari, McLaren, Lambo etc. Especially the SUV’s. Rolls Culligan? You’re deluding yourself that you aren’t in a minivan. (and yes I have experienced it; I was invited to the west coast premiere or something. Lord knows why and when they read my review I am sure the snark cause them to not invite us again.)
https://www.autoextremist.com/on-the-table1/2018/7/16/july-18-2018.html
I have never had Cristal but I have had Bolly, DP, and many others. I don’t think that that $250 bottle of Krug is impressing anyone and although I’d share it with you (well i would if I hadn’t quit drinking) but buy one myself? Muss Cordon Rouge will do for my dinner party and if you don’t like it tough beans.
Autocorrect sux. MUMMS
“Vulgar” is the PERFECT word. I think you and I come from a certain kind of genteel Yankee background where it just Was Not Done. My mom had a million-year-old Coach bag lol. Great patina. I was curious what you’d say about cars, since I know you’re an enthusiast! I want my car to be functional, safe, and not leave me stranded.
Combo of Yankee Pearl Clutching and good old Irish Parsimony. Dat’s me. Crazy how I’m still single..
You know, I actually think about this question a lot. I read an article recently where the author pointed out that additional items that you buy (additional to what you have) makes what you already have less valuable. I’d love any discussion on that one!
Worth it:
– Good food, although not necessarily at a restaurant
– I LOVE nice hotels, but we don’t splurge often
– Linen sheets, down comforters (Mr. SP–who is half Norwegian–and I sleep Scandinavian style – we are in the same bed, but each have our own blanket/comforter. It’s truly game-changing!)
– Perfume, yes and no. I won’t pay the new prices like $350 for 100 mls of anything.
– Travel, yes!
– I’m with Dina on trying to buy fewer/better – high quality fabrics, etc.
– Here’s a different one: camping stuff. We love to camp and hike, so have a really good tent and wonderful sleeping pads, cooking gear, etc.
Not Worth It:
– High end skin care (like others, I can get good stuff that does the job for much less)
– Designer stuff
– I’m probably too minimalist, but generally have only a few nice scarves and earrings, etc. so fewer “accessories”
– Love to read but don’t buy many books anymore – huge library user.
ANOTHER library user! Sometimes I feel bad I’m not supporting the authors, but there we have it. And with you and Dina on higher quality fabrics. I’d love to do another post on this and the idea of “enough” and “less valuable.” I’m constantly culling, I think if it’s something that doesn’t get used or worn, the issue either needs to be resolved or it needs to be donated.
I love that youre a library devotee. Me too.
I live in my library ( well… okay… maybe not actually in) and I tank Floyd on the regular for inter library loans, since I live at the back of beyond
With you on dining out, fancy handbags, and luxury skin goo. I’ve spoiled myself with good wool socks and I can’t go back. Same with comfortable and well made undergarments, they make every day more bearable. And yes to travel!
Good socks! I’m loving reading people’s suggestions, I’m with you on that one. I have wool socks that are STILL around years later. I even darn them.
Love wool socks too! Falke and Smartwool are my favs so far.
I have some Smartwool socks that are easily 20 years old.
Great topic! I realized long ago that I’m a mid-tier girlie on most things. But here are my lists:
Not worth it/what I prefer instead: buying books when there are libraries and inter-library loans; luxury meals out (a recent one turned out to be no more special than our local fine restaurant and cost 30% more); high-end designer handbags, I’m more mid on this too; fancy designer shoes, shoes take a beating — it doesn’t make sense to me; luxury autos with all the gizmos, nope, I drive a Subaru.
What is worth it:
Perfume! 😀
Buying clothes made of real quality textiles like cotton, merino, cashmere, linen, silk. And from good makers. I shun fast fashion.
Well-made shoes. Gotta take care of your feet.
Furniture made from real wood not particle board and cardboard. It can be second-hand or hand-me-down. Just well-made.
Making the time and effort, travel to visit friends and spend time with people you love.
… wait are you sure we’re not the same person?!? Most of my books (and I read a LOT) come from the library, I’m tired of moving them from rental to rental. And CLOTHES — this should be a whole post. I like quality and natural fibers but they’re not “designer” brand, more mid tier. Real furniture, probably old! And I’m driving my 14 year old car that still works great.
March, we are twins in so many ways! Heart emoji!
Does your library do e-books? They do here and it’s great. Download it and you have two weeks to read it and it disappears. Don’t have to worry about forgetting to return them.
I get e-books and “regular” books — it’s a nice walk to the library and I like a thing I can hold, but sometimes I want it in e-book format, plus I can check them out at, say, 11pm on a Saturday…
That’s exactly how I feel. BHPL also has a store where they sell the donations that they don’t need. Which I have found a couple of treasures in. And to which I have donated “disposable reading” to
Libby app and I are besties. iykyk. During 2022 pandemic year I read 150 books, my all-time record. Ebooks are awesome!!
That is VERY impressive!
Worth it: luxury bedsheets and towels, fancy soap. Also, expensive shoes ( not heels). And of course, travel!
I’m also down for expensive dining and hotels, once in a while – getting spoiled is very, very worth it.
Also, expensive paper towels. And cheese!
Not worth it: expensive toilet paper, paper napkins at any price point ( reusable cloth ones or for extra messes, see paper towels above!), fancy purses/accessories, expensive clothes, expensive sun screen ( pretty much any expensive American brand, we’re so behind on the ingredients!), expensive cars, manicures/pedicures
Cheese! We have a whole cheese drawer, we treat ourselves. I really should try splurging on more expensive accommodations occasionally. Cheap paper towels are the devil, plus I like the ones you can pull off the half-size which is usually enough. My shoes are “good” shoes although not wildly fancy, and breathable leather.
Cheese! My love and my nemesis. If I could only eat one food it would be cheese.
I love cheese! I also have a whole cheese drawer. Everyone jokes that if a food has cheese on it or in it, I’ll eat it and they’re not far off. lol.
… some folks act as if that is STRANGE! I also have a bunch of small jars of things to go with the cheese, plus a shelf full of various kinds of crackers.
WHOA! I love this March.
Worth it? Bath Gels, Comfortable Shoes, Quality Pullovers and Long Johns, Cotton Underwear and Perfume. Nicer Hotels, crappy Drag Jewellery, a few pieces of Real Jewellery.
Not Worth It? With you on Designer Handbags, $1000+ Perfumes, rarely think Super Fancy Dining is worth it, Luxury/Sports Cars, almost all Beauty Care Products, flying Business Class or above (even though I love to do it, it never seems worth all that extra).
Portia xx
Ah, if I was still using air transport it would be business class. I have raised my child — I don’t want to know what your family interactions are like.
I’ve only flown business class once (long haul to Bangkok) and it was a delight, but mostly I’m on short, crappy flights and I laugh at “business / first class” on these dumb little planes.
I was bumped up to first once (it pays to be a polite person with a smile on your face and direct eye contact. Especially when there’s some self-important termagant who is berating them as incompetent.) It was worth it- if someone else paid for it. It was nice but I’d rather have the $1000 in cash and I’ll supply the earplugs.
All the things I could have added to this list! Luxury cars, business class… there’s an element of “luxury signalling” in some of these things that I’d love to explore further.
Ok, fun. Going to cherry pick. Agree on pricey handbags, even if I hanker after a couple. I don’t buy costume jewellery. I wear my mother’s ‘good’ stuff or I bite the proverbial bullet and buy ‘real’ stuff I adore (and think to myself that my son can sell it once I’m away with the fairies which he knows he can’t do with the family stuff). Travel is almost always worth it. Skincare … on the fence on that one. The stuff I’m currently using isn’t cheap but it’s not stupid money. Mostly, I’m after the combo of usefulness and pleasure…
I also wear the “good” stuff much of the time, although I totally admit to my share of costume. The combo of usefulness and pleasure is the sweet spot! My “cheap” stuff isn’t THAT cheap.
Sadly you can’t wear a lot of the “good stuff” anymore, at least here. I have an inherited watch that I used to wear all the time even through a bunch of armed rolex robberies- mines not a jubilee band or a President or even has gold trim. But someone in a store told me how much it was worth. So I have an Apple watch that yells at me if I sit too long and admonishes me if I haven’t gone for a walk.
Mine is! and I don’t care a jot!! Weirdly… a lot of people think it’s ‘real’ :: as if my ears could handle 12cwt diamond drops:: – but I think that’s just my face
I’m with you on pretty much all of these, except the nose hair waxing-but time will tell.
I have soo many handbags… but rarely carry them, other than the hot pink beach tote I got for $19
No more perfume, though… okay not MUCH more perfume
Hehehe you can tell how delighted I STILL am with the nose hair waxing. And I feel like handbags should be used! Baffles me to see the handbag “collectors” who just keep them on a shelf and never, ever use them, but who am I to judge with my fragrance collection lol.
I really would like to carry my good’uns more often but I was at a galvanizing facility and had to keep my Bombay glued to my arm and it was … silly